Four forty-five was an odd time to be leaving a casino. Entering one sure, Rico was one of the best bartenders in town and we always came in early on Thursdays for Happy Hour. The Lot was already full of sports cars and Mustangs belonging to businessmen skipping their late-afternoon meetings. Frederick Dontello was the outlier it seems, ditching Happy Hour do go to a meeting. Not that he really wanted to, he’d been having a fascinating conversation with Istvan Ward about the benefits of investing in overseas construction, but a meeting at Police Headquarters wasn’t something easily rescheduled.
‘The price we pay for success,’ Frederick thought as he drove out of the parking garage.
“Siri, call Clive.”
“Calling Stacy.” Frederick groaned. Of course they got into his contacts list.
“Hey dad.”
“How did you get into my phone?” he asked. Priorities first.
“Is that really why you called me?”
“No, but I would like to know.”
“I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“So you bribed someone then.” Great, now he had to fire somebody.
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
“Forget it. It’s better I don’t know. I’m calling to let you know I’ll be late and/or possible missing dinner tonight.” He tried to sound apologetic but it sounded too impartial.
“That’s fine,” Stacy replied like this wasn’t the third family dinner night he’d bailed on, “I’m at Angie’s anyway. Her mom’s making tamales.”
“Well, alright then. Tell Mrs. Torres I’ll cover her grocery bills for the week.”
“She won’t accept that you know. She’s gonna leave an angry voicemail at your office again.” “That’s ok, Stephanie lives for those voicemails. Highlight of her week.” He could see the entrance to Police HQ up ahead at the next light. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sure, bye dad.”
“Goodbye.”
He parked his car in a visitor’s spot and walked through the automatic doors where two officers and PR representative Harris were waiting for him.
“Mr. Dontello wonderful to have you here.” Harris said, shaking his hand.
“Harris, good to see you how are the kids?” Frederick asked, walking next to the man as they headed upstairs to the conference room.
“Good, good. My youngest just lost her first tooth.”
“They grow up so fast don’t they?” he asked, feeling a touch nostalgic. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long?”
“Of course not, you’re right on time.” He was actually 25 minutes late but who said you couldn’t be fashionable late to a business meeting? When they arrived at the conference room Officer Rici had already started her presentation and continued on as if they hadn’t interupted her.
“A prezi, how fancy. Just for me Donna? You shouldn’t have.”
“Mr. Dontello how nice of you to join us,” she responded dryly, still looking at the screen. My intern insisted on putting together the presentation herself. She said, and I quote, “You really need spice up your presentations boss. You don’t want a boring meeting do you?”
“Because discussing mafia tactics and technological advancements is so boring,” he said with an easy grin, leaning back into his change with his hands folded on his lap.
“To some. Now as I was saying before Mr Dontello arrived, this is our latest development in pursuit technology.” She pulled up a picture of what looked like a giant, pentagonal speaker.
“The sound camera. Capable of recording conversations from nearly 2 miles away and can accurately map out interior locations including body positions based on sound waves.”
“You’re saying it can echolocate?” another business associate asked.
“In a way yes. The camera picks up vibrations and maps a 3D model of a room based on it. With this we can not only record mafia conversations, but map out their facilities as well.”
“What about the fact that it looks like a giant target?” Frederick asked. Rici’s face fell and she twisted her fingers nervously.
“There is… a small issue with mobility. Unfortunately the machines are too big to easily conceal and once in place they are difficult to move.”
“So there’s a high risk of these falling into enemy hands.” Deputy-chief Garrison said flatly, not looking happy at all about this development.
“Yes sir,” Rici admittted.
“A shame,” Frederick said, idley spinning a pen between his fingers, “they have potential. Let me know if you need more funding to miniaturize them.”
Rici looked like she swallowed a lemon but no matter how much she despised him, she wouldn’t turn down free money.
“What else have you got Officer Rici?” Deputy Garrison asked, moving the presentation along.
“Well, we recently got ahold of a Kulza submachine rifle.” Everyone in the room perked up.
“Really?” Harris asked incredulously. Rici straighten and grinned.
“We’ve been working tirelously to study it a reverse engine its modifications.”
“Modifications?” Federick asked. He hadn’t meant it to come out challenging but Rici seemed to take it that way. Before she could bite back at him Garrison interrupted. “It isn’t widespread knowledge to the public, but there’ve been reports of these weapons firing anything from overly destructive incendiary rounds to some kind of shock bullet or taser. So far we haven’t been able to identify anything unusual about the guns, but I’ve been assured Miss Rici’s team is doing everything they can find answers.”
“Of course sir!”
Frederick tapped the table in thought. “Do you think we could see these guns? Or at least have demonstration of some of the police’s tech. I’d like to see what you’ve accomplished before I make any changes to my investments.”
“A demonstration is appropriate,” Garrison agreed. “Miss Rici if you would?”
Rici gathered up her notes and led them towards the door. “Right this way gentlemen.”
They filed out in twos after her, some of the lesser business men were practically vibrating in excitement. Federick waited until they all passed before falling in a few steps behind the group. He pulled out his phone and typed out a quick message before joining and chatting amicably with the others.
[Blocked] 6:03pm Police have got a gun. Reports of “unusual rounds” but they haven’t found anything yet. Rici’s in charge, we’re heading to lab 6 now. It must be somewhere nearby. I’ll keep an eye on it. They’re also upping their surveillance. Some new echolocation device, but it’s bulky, hard to hide and easy to hit. Deputy won’t release it for field use until it’s more mobile but they might get desperate. Should get at least one to be safe. Going to a demonstration, will provide more details later.
‘The price we pay for success,’ Frederick thought as he drove out of the parking garage.
“Siri, call Clive.”
“Calling Stacy.” Frederick groaned. Of course they got into his contacts list.
“Hey dad.”
“How did you get into my phone?” he asked. Priorities first.
“Is that really why you called me?”
“No, but I would like to know.”
“I’m sworn to secrecy.”
“So you bribed someone then.” Great, now he had to fire somebody.
“I can neither confirm nor deny.”
“Forget it. It’s better I don’t know. I’m calling to let you know I’ll be late and/or possible missing dinner tonight.” He tried to sound apologetic but it sounded too impartial.
“That’s fine,” Stacy replied like this wasn’t the third family dinner night he’d bailed on, “I’m at Angie’s anyway. Her mom’s making tamales.”
“Well, alright then. Tell Mrs. Torres I’ll cover her grocery bills for the week.”
“She won’t accept that you know. She’s gonna leave an angry voicemail at your office again.”
“That’s ok, Stephanie lives for those voicemails. Highlight of her week.” He could see the entrance to Police HQ up ahead at the next light. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sure, bye dad.”
“Goodbye.”
He parked his car in a visitor’s spot and walked through the automatic doors where two officers and PR representative Harris were waiting for him.
“Mr. Dontello wonderful to have you here.” Harris said, shaking his hand.
“Harris, good to see you how are the kids?” Frederick asked, walking next to the man as they headed upstairs to the conference room.
“Good, good. My youngest just lost her first tooth.”
“They grow up so fast don’t they?” he asked, feeling a touch nostalgic. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long?”
“Of course not, you’re right on time.” He was actually 25 minutes late but who said you couldn’t be fashionable late to a business meeting? When they arrived at the conference room Officer Rici had already started her presentation and continued on as if they hadn’t interupted her.
“A prezi, how fancy. Just for me Donna? You shouldn’t have.”
“Mr. Dontello how nice of you to join us,” she responded dryly, still looking at the screen. My intern insisted on putting together the presentation herself. She said, and I quote, “You really need spice up your presentations boss. You don’t want a boring meeting do you?”
“Because discussing mafia tactics and technological advancements is so boring,” he said with an easy grin, leaning back into his change with his hands folded on his lap.
“To some. Now as I was saying before Mr Dontello arrived, this is our latest development in pursuit technology.” She pulled up a picture of what looked like a giant, pentagonal speaker.
“The sound camera. Capable of recording conversations from nearly 2 miles away and can accurately map out interior locations including body positions based on sound waves.”
“You’re saying it can echolocate?” another business associate asked.
“In a way yes. The camera picks up vibrations and maps a 3D model of a room based on it. With this we can not only record mafia conversations, but map out their facilities as well.”
“What about the fact that it looks like a giant target?” Frederick asked. Rici’s face fell and she twisted her fingers nervously.
“There is… a small issue with mobility. Unfortunately the machines are too big to easily conceal and once in place they are difficult to move.”
“So there’s a high risk of these falling into enemy hands.” Deputy-chief Garrison said flatly, not looking happy at all about this development.
“Yes sir,” Rici admittted.
“A shame,” Frederick said, idley spinning a pen between his fingers, “they have potential. Let me know if you need more funding to miniaturize them.”
Rici looked like she swallowed a lemon but no matter how much she despised him, she wouldn’t turn down free money.
“What else have you got Officer Rici?” Deputy Garrison asked, moving the presentation along.
“Well, we recently got ahold of a Kulza submachine rifle.” Everyone in the room perked up.
“Really?” Harris asked incredulously. Rici straighten and grinned.
“We’ve been working tirelously to study it a reverse engine its modifications.”
“Modifications?” Federick asked. He hadn’t meant it to come out challenging but Rici seemed to take it that way. Before she could bite back at him Garrison interrupted.
“It isn’t widespread knowledge to the public, but there’ve been reports of these weapons firing anything from overly destructive incendiary rounds to some kind of shock bullet or taser. So far we haven’t been able to identify anything unusual about the guns, but I’ve been assured Miss Rici’s team is doing everything they can find answers.”
“Of course sir!”
Frederick tapped the table in thought. “Do you think we could see these guns? Or at least have demonstration of some of the police’s tech. I’d like to see what you’ve accomplished before I make any changes to my investments.”
“A demonstration is appropriate,” Garrison agreed. “Miss Rici if you would?”
Rici gathered up her notes and led them towards the door. “Right this way gentlemen.”
They filed out in twos after her, some of the lesser business men were practically vibrating in excitement. Federick waited until they all passed before falling in a few steps behind the group. He pulled out his phone and typed out a quick message before joining and chatting amicably with the others.
[Blocked]
6:03pm
Police have got a gun. Reports of “unusual rounds” but they haven’t found anything yet. Rici’s in charge, we’re heading to lab 6 now. It must be somewhere nearby. I’ll keep an eye on it. They’re also upping their surveillance. Some new echolocation device, but it’s bulky, hard to hide and easy to hit. Deputy won’t release it for field use until it’s more mobile but they might get desperate. Should get at least one to be safe. Going to a demonstration, will provide more details later.